Although Bobby Bowden was a football coach at Florida State, I think the comparison is a fair one. Both had great teams, a ton of elite talent players, and a single national title. Just as Florida State eventually had to force out Bobby Bowden after it was obvious that he could no longer compete at the highest level, the time has come for UK to do the same with Cal. Cal's formula of one and done and getting as many people in the draft every year is just no longer a viable formula for the college season. If NBA player development is his #1 goal, then go to the D League and see how many many players you can get "promoted" to the league every year. There is a difference in having athletes and having players who have basketball IQ. The initial hire after Bobby Bowden (Jimbo Fisher) won a national title. Cal's replacement could do the same. It's a lot easier to get instant results in basketball than football.
Cal has reached the Bobby Bowden stage.
- Thread starter melvinm
- Start date
Bowden won two titles. Cal may not even sniff another one. But I get what you’re saying.
Florida State is a dumpster fire because the academics first second and third AD refused to pay Jimbo Fisher so he left. And that same middle tier checkbook, hired middle tiered coaches, and produced middle tier results.
Jimbo had them built back up to being in the BCS convo every year and won a title.
Not a great comparison imo, as Bowden endured several losses in each of his last 9 years. Florida State was not competitive on a national stage for nearly a decade.
A
anon_q409idbs5m40a
Guest
This situation with Cal often reminds me of what happened with Fred Akers at Texas back in the '80's, only Akers never won a title. He peaked out after the 1983 season and UT Football was on a steady decline after that. I believe his 1983 team was ranked No. 1 in the polls but choked against Georgia in the Cotton Bowl. After that, recruiting took a nose dive and he was finally forced out in 1986.
yeah...and look what fisher did to get that title. he sold is soul and allowed Winston to get away with a whole bunch of mess that would have gotten any other student either expelled or in jail.
nah. The reality was that the program was slipping along with Bowden. He was increasingly becoming detached from actual coaching and was largely a figurehead. And the program was suffering as a result.
In a way it's very much the same when you factor in recruiting mistakes. Bobby Bowden promoted his youngest and worst coaching of the sons (Jeff) to OC and had some guys who weren't good recruiters get lazy. That led to his Recruiting Coordinator going off lists and so many kids they recruited were off "Rankings Lists" and too often they went to California (sound familiar) for guys who were either overrated or flat out busts. When you are located in the South, why you'd ever go to the West Coast for a kid like Dominic Robinson as a CB prospect is beyond me. Kid was supposed to be Deion Sanders 2.0 but watching tape, he was a 4.7-ish guy who was moved from CB to possession WR. Justin Tomerlin.....Lorenzo Booker--a good but overrated player.....Chris Rix......I can keep going but moral of the story is when you become the king.....you have a lot of guys who aren't good enough to play for you but are easy to land. If your staff keeps doing that--eventually it burns you.
The one recruitment that sums up the fall of FSU--they took a commitment from a kid named James Buchanan who was listed as a 6'4 230 lb Fullback. He took an official visit and FSU signed him. Problem is when he was listed on roster the next year he ended up 5'11 and 205. Now some are thinking what is the problem--well when your staff is so ***** they ignore details and can't tell the difference and pass on a kid like this unless he wants to walk on it's either a favor to a friend/booster, or just lazy and awful. Too much of that and you end up like Bobby did, with those who loved him for building that program to those wanting him gone for Jimbo Fisher.
It's ALWAYS about how hard you are willing to recruit and then develop players. If you aren't wanting to get into fights and battles, then step aside. This is not an occupation for those who want easy recruiting. That's how you end up with "great kids" and sound like Nick Nolte and Staff when they are wondering why they get their **** pushed discussing the previous losses.
The one recruitment that sums up the fall of FSU--they took a commitment from a kid named James Buchanan who was listed as a 6'4 230 lb Fullback. He took an official visit and FSU signed him. Problem is when he was listed on roster the next year he ended up 5'11 and 205. Now some are thinking what is the problem--well when your staff is so ***** they ignore details and can't tell the difference and pass on a kid like this unless he wants to walk on it's either a favor to a friend/booster, or just lazy and awful. Too much of that and you end up like Bobby did, with those who loved him for building that program to those wanting him gone for Jimbo Fisher.
It's ALWAYS about how hard you are willing to recruit and then develop players. If you aren't wanting to get into fights and battles, then step aside. This is not an occupation for those who want easy recruiting. That's how you end up with "great kids" and sound like Nick Nolte and Staff when they are wondering why they get their **** pushed discussing the previous losses.
1. Bowden won 2 titles.
2. Bowden was also approaching 80 years old and was mostly a figurehead. He was no longer doing day to day coaching. That was all his assistants.
2. Bowden was also approaching 80 years old and was mostly a figurehead. He was no longer doing day to day coaching. That was all his assistants.